Method of treating brick.



UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS MAGOON, OF LOGAN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN W. JONES,

' OF HAYDENVILLE, OHIO.

METHOD 0F TREATING BRICK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed November 15. 1906- Serial No. 343.599.

provements in Methods of Treating Bricks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a method of treating bricks. This title is adoted simply for convenience for the method may be employed with advantagein the production of goods or ware other than such articles knownspecifically as bricks. In other words, when I use the latterdesignation in the title of my.

invention I do so in a broad sense.

The method is adapted particularly for action upon bricks which haveironin the clay from which the same are composed and which metal frequently.makes the article of dark color and usually of a variable shade. Byvirtue of my method these disadvantages are eliminated so that 'I amenabled to secure a brick of uniform light or mottled clear color.

Broadly stated the invention comprehends the introduction of airinto akiln. This airis preferably introduced into the kiln in a large volumeand its place of admission will depend upon the type of kiln Whether thesame be down draft, up draft, or up and down draft. l/Vith a down draftkiln the air is preferably admitted thereinto at the top or crown and isdirected downward under pressure by suitable mechanical means, such asfan. an up draft kiln the air is let into the same at the bottom, andwith an up and down draft kiln the air is passed into the kiln betweenthe top and bottom thereof. Therefore, it

will be apparent that I do not limit myself to the practice of theprocess in connection with any particular type of kiln. I find that theair which is thus admitted to the kiln oXidizes and changes to some"extent the coloring matter in the brick. It is not material at whattemperature the air is, although I find I cannot secure advantageousresults by having the air cold, by which I mean colder than the normal.The blowing in of the air With ' nesses.

preferably occurs at the high heat stage and continues for approximately-a period T three hours. This period of time may, he ivever, be variedand is mentioned simply as an illustration.

tice the invention and only for this purpose I will point out oneparticular procedure involving my method. From what has been stated itwill be obvious that I am not limited to this particular mode ofcarrying the invention into effect, for the invention is more generalinits character.

An ordinary down draft kiln twenty-eight feet inside diameter will holdabout thirty thousand fine face brick. A kiln of this type and capacitywould require about twentyfour thousand. cubic feet of air a minuteblown into it. This is substantially equivalent to eight hundred cubicfeet a minute for one thousand standard size brick. For blowing in theair, I find that an ordinary one hundred inch fan driven three hundredand thirty-six revolutions a minute will deliver the necessary amount ofair. The supply of the air to the interior of the kiln commences atabout the time when the kiln has developed its maximum temperature andmay continue for the period stated.

What I claim is:

1. The method of treating colored brick which consists in introducing alarge volume of air into the kiln containing said brick when the kiln isat its maximum temperature to oxidize the coloring matter in the brick.

2. The method of treating colored brick which consists in introducing alarge volume of air under pressure into the kiln containing said brickwhen the kiln is at a high heat and continuing such supply of air tooxidize the coloring matter in the brick.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set To enable those skilled in theart -to-prac-' my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- AUG USTUSMAGOON. Witnesses: JNo. A. SMITH,

- E. PLEUKHARP;

